Sykes places his Kawasaki on Monza pole

Monza (Italy), Saturday 11 May 2013 - Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) scored his 14th career Tissot-Superpole today at Monza's Autodromo Nazionale, the 3rd in a row so far in 2013. The works Kawasaki rider snatched the first grid slot from Eugene Laverty (Aprilia Racing Team) thanks to a blistering fast 1'41.223 time - new best lap for the Northern Italy track.

The 27 year old from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, already lapped below Max Biaggi's previous record from 2011 in Superpole 2. Up to today, Monza's Autodromo Nazionale Tissot watch was one of the 4 missing from Sykes’ collection from past races.

Tom Sykes: “I did not know the time Eugene had set but I knew that the Aprilias would be fast here. I am looking forward to tomorrow because we all have good race pace. In some areas we have an advantage and we got a new circuit record in Superpole, and the ideal starting position for tomorrow. I am looking forward to two exciting races. I like racing at Monza because the spectators are crazy like me! The fans are very enthusiastic and Monza is a very fast circuit. I hope to be very strong tomorrow.”

Works Aprilia rider and current Championship leader Sylvain Guintoli managed to edge out from 3rd place - after his last attempt before the flag - Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike). A difficult Superpole start for Marco Melandri (BMW Motorrad GoldBet), who was forced at the garage due to a technical problem occurred to his BMW machine in SP1, was able to defeat the odds to secure a 5th grid slot start for tomorrow's two races.

Davide Giugliano completes the second row ahead of FIXI Crescent Suzuki duo of Jules Cluzel and Leon Camier, with Chaz Davies (BMW Motorrad GoldBet) in 9th place.

Carlos Checa's racing weekend is unfortunately over due to an overnight worsening of his left shoulder conditions. The Spaniard of Team Ducati Alstare was diagnosed with an osseus edema to the humerus after the Assen round and yesterday's on-track effort intensified the inflammation in the joint, leading to the decision of withdrawing from the round.

World Supersport - Incredible last-lap effort for pole by Lowes

Sam Lowes (Yakhnich Motorsport Yamaha) defeated changing weather to score his career pole position number 8 – 3rd of the current season. The 22 year old from Lincolnshire rode an outstanding last-lap under drizzling conditions to edge out from 1st position an apparently unbeatable Florian Marino (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki), who was leading in the closing stages.

Front row start in 3rd place for reigning Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Racing Team India Kawasaki), who displayed an ultra-competitive pace during Qualifying 2. Home rider Lorenzo Zanetti (Pata Honda Supersport Team) got an important 4th on the track that saw him winning the STK1000 race two years ago.

Wild-card Stefano Cruciani (Puccetti Racing Kawasaki) finished ahead of team mate and full-time Supersport rider Riccardo Russo, while Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport) had the better of yesterday's provisional pole-sitter Kev Coghlan (DMC-Lorenzini Kawasaki) and Championship leader Fabien Foret (Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki) for 7th place.

WSBK